Show ContentsPobjoy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Pobjoy surname is derived from the Old French word "papegai," which meant "parrot." There were archery contests in the Middle Ages where bowmen shot at a wooden parrot or "popinjay" on a pole, and as such the term also came to be used for a winner, in sports.

Early Origins of the Pobjoy family

The surname Pobjoy was first found in Staffordshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed.

Early History of the Pobjoy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pobjoy research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1321, 1371, 1397, 1410, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Pobjoy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pobjoy Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Papinjay, Pabjay, Papjay, Pobjoy, Pebjoy, Pobgee, Popejoy, Popjoy, Pobgee, Papigay, Popjoy, Popingay and many more.

Early Notables of the Pobjoy family

More information is included under the topic Early Pobjoy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Australia Pobjoy migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Pobjoy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Pobjoy, (b. 1820), aged 22, English convict who was convicted in Bath, Somerset, England for 10 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 4th October 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [1]

Contemporary Notables of the name Pobjoy (post 1700) +

  • Mark Pobjoy, Faculty of Classics at Oxford University
  • Derek Pobjoy, Managing Director of the Pobjoy Mint, England


  1. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-gray


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